Switch mechanism



H. M. STEVENS.

SWHCH MECHANISM.

APPLHLATION mm 1AN.2|.19I9.

Fi Q. 2.

Inventor U Harry M. Stevens His 'flttorneg.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HARE- M. STEVENS, OF SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSJIGNOR TO GENERALELECTRIC COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

swr'rcn MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

' Patented July'4, 1922.

Application filed January 21, 19 19. Serial No. 272,847.

automatic operation with slight change- 6f 1b parts, which can be movedto imlatching ,position with a minimum effort and which is, in other;particulars, to he more definitely described, an improvement uponShillinga vices heretofore known in the art.'

It is common practice to mount relatively small rupturing capacityswitchesso that they can be operated by a mechanism located -upon a.switchboard or panel in front of the switch. Such switches have,usuallTbeen provided with separate mechanisms includmg a separateoperating member, latching means or escutcheon plate, for each size ofswitch and still different parts for non-automatic andautomaticoperation. For automatic operation it has again been necessaryto provide. independent operating mechani'sms dependent upon whether-theswitch is to he tripped upon overload, llnderloud or low voltage. Thisnecessitated carrying in stock a complete series of operating mechanismswith separate parts each adapted for a s iecific purpose;

ecording to my invention, I provide an operuting mechanism which isuniversally adapted, witl'only a slight alteration or substitution ofparts, to perform the function of all the aforesaid separate mechanismsfor both automatic and hand-operation for all sizes of switches.Furthermore, this mechanism is provided with an extra sensitive latchingmeans which. for automatic operation. can he quickly moved to unlatchingISlilul' to permit the. switi'h to open free rum the handle with aminimum efl'ort. The operating member is also provided with means forquickly and easily releasing the same from it's latched closed positionand moving it to opening position in one contmuous movement.

The novel featureswhich I believe to be characteristic of my invention"will be definitely indicated; 'in the claims appended hereto while .thefeatures'aof construction andniode goftoperatiomj will be understoodferengig thi the .1 following description ffionawith'the' accompanying epreferred. embodiments of myiinveiitigni andj iii which:

Figureflis a 'siiie'elevation of a switch einlmdlyjpgjniy inrention.part ofthe mecha- 'msm re n I g removed; e-rfor, reasons of clear-7.ness, Fig. 2 is .afront'elevation of, the mechereie 3-.

r g: as a o e I W igzfilil and vFigs.4 and 5 are 'side elevations ofvthe latching means and part of the mechanism'taken along the line 3 39fFig. 3,' in latching and released positions respectively. I

lmlgigwl, l have shown at switch 1 of usual construction andibygway ofexample a switchof the oil break type. This switch is supported upon a.suitable framework 2 and controlled through an operating mechanismnmunted'in front of the switch on a switch board or panel 3.]Theoperating mechanism for controlling the switch comprises an operatingmember} bifurcated or provided with two similar portions 5, best shownin FigQZ'c-arried by or pivotally mounted upon a suitable escutcheonplate 6 secured-to the panel or support 3. A con- 'nection is'providedl'ietween the operating member 4 and the. actuating echanism 7 for theswitch, extending through a suitable opening in' the panel 3 andcomprising link members 8, as shown in, Fig. 3, pivotedto and on hthsides ofthe actuating. means 7. Cooperating link members 9 areadjustably secured to he members 8 in rigid alignment therewith )y meansof a bolt 10 or other securing me ns movable in slots 11 of members 8,as bestfhown in'Fig. 4-, whereby the length of th rigid connection canbe adjusted depending it ion the size of the switch to be operated. i hemembers 9 are offset from one another and ire providedatmeclmnismwfor-fthe operatin l their outer ends with slots 12 into whichextend a pin or pins 13 extending through the portions :3 of theoperating member 4, thus providing a lost motion connection with therating member whereby the member and t e rigid connection areindependently movable.

Mounted between the links!) of the rigid connection and for-min aconnecting means intermediate the' rigi connection and the member 4 is anormally latched, collapsib e connection which in normal or thrusttransmitting position serves to rigidly connect the operating member 4to the members 8 and 9 whereby the thrust or movement of the ratingmember is transmitted to the rigi connection to operate theswitch, thepin 13 being immovable in slots 12. This collapsible connectioncomprises a to gle having coo rating members 14 and 15, st shown in. ig.4, toggle link 14 having two engaging surfaces 14 and 14", and, pivotedat one end upon pin 13 between the portions 5 of the operating member 4,while toggle lipks 15, comprising duplicate members, are pivotallysecured at one end upon a aring 16 between links 9 of the rigid coectiom The links 14 and 15 are pivotally co nected together intermediatetheir ends. T links 15 are also provided with ears 17, best shown inFig. 3, which cooperate with the links 9 to limit the movements of thetoggle to latched position and these links also have extended portions18 )rovided to'operate a signal or indicatin ievice, such as a bellalarm switch 19, w ien the toggle collapses.

For holding the collapsible connection l415 in rigid. latched, or thrusttransmitting position. I provide a latching means comprising a mainlatch or member 20 pivotally mounted upon bearing 16 and having alatching recess 21 adapted to engage the engaging surface 14 of togglelink 14, along an inclined plane whereby the main latch 20 restrains thetoggle in thrust tl ansmittin position. Cooperating with the *mainlatcli 20 is'a secondary or auxiliary latching member 22 pivotallycarried by the latching member 20 and preferably cleviced therein. Theauxiliaryj latching member 22 is p1 vided with ahtengaging or latchingportlov 23 which cooperates with the engaging surface 14 of tog le 14 torestrain the main latch 20 in latching position. The member 22 is alsoprovided with a'tail portion 24 and also a stop 25 to limit the movementof the latch 22 inJatching osition. The latching member 20 is limite inits movement to both restraining and releasing position by a pin 27engaging a recess 28 in the member. The escutcheon plate 6 carries nearthe top thereof. within a suitable enclosure 29, a circuit controllingdevice or switch 19 biased to open position andadapted to be engaged bythe portions 18 of toggle link 1 5 and moved to circuit closing positionto control a bell alarm or other indicating device to indicate anautomatic opening of the switch. The operating member 4, in switchclosing position, engages the front portion of the inclosure 29, towhich is pivotally supported a latching pawl 30 biased to latchingposition and adapted to extend between the portions 5 of operatingmember 4 and enga e a pin 31 carried thereby, to restrain e member 4 inits closed position. ,For automaticallymoving the latching pawlBO toreleasing position, means is providadfor releasing the latch 30 duringthe initial'movement of the operating member to circuit openingposition. This meanscomprises a handle 32 for the operating memberivotally carried between the free ends of bifurcatingportions 5 thereofand movable independently of the operating member. Carrie l b 'thehandle 32 and referably integral t erewith isa depen ing portion orreleasing member 33 extending between the portions 5 of the operatingmember 4, as shown in Fi 1 and 2, and terminating in a finger 34. Theextent of ovement of the portion 33 by the handle 2 is-limited in onedirection by pin 31 and in the opposite direction bya pin 35. In theinitial movement of the operating member 4 in'switch opening direction,the handle 32 is rotated about its pivotal connection, causing releasingmember 32 with its finger 34 to engage the latch'30 and move it free ofpin 31 into releasin position whereupon continued movement 0 the handlecarries the operating member with it as a unit to switch openingposition. As the collapsible connection 1415 is held latched, the thrustof the operating member 4 is transmitted through rigid connections 8-9to move the switch frdr'n closed to open osition in one contin onsmovement. ith thereturn of the operating member to closed position, thelatch 30 automatically engages thefpin 31 and restrains the switch inclosed osition. This type of mechanism, as describe is used for allsizes of switches of the non-automatic type. The escntcheon late 6 alsocarries, preferably integrall re ated thereto, a; compartment 36'at theower end thereof adapted to eontain'a femovably positionedelectrio-responsive device when automatic operation of e switch isdesired.

it is desired to change the mechaa non-automatic to an automatic type, at ipping member 37 is pivotally supported 0 an extension of thc'compartnent 36 in pos tion to engage the tail 24 of latch 22 when movedtotripping position and secured to the member 37 is an adjustable stop38 to vary the distance of travel of the mem her when moved to trippingposition. The

tripping member may be actuated by hand.

- which in response to overload current of a predetermined amount willraise its plum ger, with or without a time delay, to operate thetripping means 37 and move it to tripping position. If low voltageprotection is desired, an auxiliary device, of well known t pe. ismounted u on the anel 3 adjacent the operating mem r 4 an operativelyrelated to the trippin member 37. In the illustration shown in ig. 2,Ihave provided, a low voltage device of the hinged armature type, inwhich the armature 40; is biased to tripping position but is normallyrestrained in an upright osition by avoltage winding. When the v0 tafalls below a predetermined amount, t e armature 40 is released and dueto gravity falls to release a sprirg device, not shown, to give the arm41 a su den blow. As the arm 41 extends into the path of and below thetripping member 37, the member 37 is consequent y moved totrippifigdposition with a snap action. For underloa protection a similardevice may be used substituting a current for-a voltage winding whichpermits the release of the, armature 40 when the current falls belowaf-vpredetermined amount. It is understood that either one or all threeremovably positioned devices may be used dependent upon conditions, tochange a non-automatic switch to one of automatic character.

The operation of the mechanism of the non-automatic type is apparent,the col lupsiblc connection I l--15 being held constantly rigid totransmit the thrust of the operating member 4 to the switch'parts inswitch opening and closing directions. Depending on the size of theswitch, the rigid connection comprising links 8 and 9 is adjustable inlength by means of bolt 10 and slot 11. whcrcas the collapsibleconncction 14-15 is unchanged for all sizes of switches.

hen automatic operation is desired. all that is required is the additionof the desired electrorcsponsirc means to the already existing structureand the tripping member 37 automatically movable thereby. moves thelatch 22 to releasing position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4. Themovement of'the latch .22 to releasing position leaves the main latch 20unrcstmim-d and it quickly moves to releasing position causing thecollapse of members I4 and 15 of the collapsible connection to theposition shown in Fig. 5. The collapse of this conncction permits themovement of members 8 and D of the rigid connection together with theswitch parts to switch opening position independent of the operatingmember 4, the rigid connection moving horizontally by means of the slots12, as shown in Fig. 5. The movement of members 15 to collapsed positioncarries portions 18 into engagement with the control switch 19 moving itto closed position where a circuit is completed .to operate any signaldevice to notify the operator of the automatic opening of the switch.

By moving the operating member to switch opening position, the initialmovement of which releases the latch 30, as has been described, the pin13 moves along slot 12 and reaching the limit of the same carriesjthe toIs 14 and 15 to latching or reset tlon he operating member .4 is thereyagain in thrust transmitting position whereupon a movement of the memberin switch closing direction is transmitted by the latched connection14-15, and links 8 and 9 to the switch parts which are corres ondingxliymoved to closed position.

n acco ance with the provisions of'the patent statutes, I have describedthe prinoiple of operation of my invention, together with the a paratuswhich I now consider to represent t e best embodiment thereof; but Idesireto have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention can be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates, is

latching member pivoted to said main latching member andcrmperating-with the other engaging surface of said pivoted member.

2. in an operating mechanism for electric switches, an operating memberconnected to a switch, latching means mounted imlcgx'udcntly of saidmember for restraining said -member in closed osition, a handle forsuidmember mo able a ut a fixed point indcpcndcntly of said operatinmember, an extension carried by said hand e for moving said latchingmeans to releasing position during the initial movement of said handlein opening direction whereby subsequent movement of said handle movessaid oper- :iting member to open position free of restruint.

3. In an operating mechanism for electric switches. an cscutcheon plate.an operating member pivotally mounted on said plate, and a hitch securedto said plate biased to restrain said operating member in closedposition, a handle for said operating member movable independently ofsaid member, a dependin 7 member carr ed by said handle and movab cthereb to release said latch, a

stop carried by sai operating member and engaged by said dependingmember whereby continuedmov'ement of the handle in releasing directionopens said operating said operatin member.

4. In an operating mechanism for electric switches, a bifurcatedoperating member, a pin between the bifurcating portions thereof,atching means mounted independently of member and extending between saidbifurcating portions to engage said pin to hold said operating member inclosed position, a handle for said operating member pivoted between thefree ends of said bifurcating portions lind movable independently ofsaid, operating member, a dependin portion carried by said handle andmove e thereby to cause the release of said latching means, whereby saidoperating member is released and moved to open position in onecontinuous movement.

5. In an operating mechanism for an electric switch, an operatingmember, means connecting said member to said switch including a collasible connection, and means for automation y collapsing said connectionto permit said switch to open independently of said operatin r member,one of the members of said co lapsible connection being adapted whenmoved to collapsed position to mechanically operate a device forindicatin the automatic opening'of said switch.

6. 11 an operating mec ianism for an electric switch, an escutcheonlate, an operatin member carried by said plate, a con nection betweensaid operating member and said switch including a collapsible connectioncomprising a movable member having two engaging portions, a mainlatching member arranged to engage one of said portions and an auxiliarylatch' member arranged to engage the other 0 said portions and said mainlatching meniber to 'cause .said main latching member to hold ing twoengaging surfaces, a cooperating tog is member carried bv said links, amam latci carried by said links-cooperating with latch in 'tion andmember in thrust transmitting reone of said engaging surfaces tomaintain said toggle in restrained position, and an auxiliary latchp'ivdtally carried by said main latclr cooperating with the other ofsaid enga 'in surfaces to restrain said main its: ing position.

8. In an operating mechanism foran elec tric switch, an 0 rating member,a connection between said 0 rating member and switch secured to saidmember through aj lost motion connection whereby said switch andoperating member are movable independently, means for holding saidconneclation comprising a collapsible toggle aving one member carried bysaid operatin member and a cooperating member carrie by said connection,and latehin means for holding said toggle members in etching position,and means for automatically causing the collapse of saiditog 1e membersin response to predetermin tions to permit said switch to openindependently of said operating'member.

9. In an operating mechanism for an electric switch, an l gperatingmember, a rigid connection-seen at one end to said switch and at theother end to said operating mem? ber throu h a loat motion connection,and a collapsi le connect-ion intermediate said rigid connection andsaid operating member comprisin cooperating togglemembers, a mam latcing one of said toggle members to'restrain said toggle in thrusttransmitting position and an auxiliary latching membercooperating withsaid-one of said toggle members to restrain said main latching'mmber inlatching position; a

10. In an operating mechanism for an electric switch, a bifurcatedoperating member, a pin between the bifurcating portions of said member,links secured to each 'end of said pin through-slots, cooperating linksconnected to said first mentioned links and to said switch to form arigid connection, a toggle member pivoted'upon said pin intermediatesaid bifurcating portions. a cooperating tog is member pivotall mountedbetween sa i I first mentioned lin a main latching ember between saidfirst mentioned li for holding said toggle membersin position totransmit the thrust of said operating member to said rigid connectionand a secondary, latching member for restraining'said mainlatchingmember in latching position;

11. In an operating mechanism for anjelec/ tric switch an operatingmember, a rigid connection tween said switch and said operatm I memberprovided with slot, a m

carrie by said operating me r mova le in said slot, and means for tranitting the thrustof said operating memr to said rigid connectionincluding acoll ible conabnormal condimember adapted to engage motionbetween said rigid connection and said operating member, saidcollapsible connection comprising a toggle member carr ed by saidoperating, member pivotally supported on said pin, a cooperating togglemember pivot ally secured to said ri rid connection. a. mam latch forholding sal' toggle members in thrust transmitting position and anauxiliary latch pivotally carried by said main latch and cooperatingwith said'toggle members to hold said main latch in latching position.

12. In an operatin mechanism for an eleetrio switch, the combinationwith an operating member links secured to said operating member througha lost motion connection and to said switch to form a rigid connection,means whereby the length of said connection can be adjusted, meanscarried inpermit said switch to open independently of said operatingmember, and removably ositinned means for automatically contro ling saidtripping member in response to predetermined abnormal conditions in thecircuit of the switch.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this th day of January,1919.

HARRY M. STEVENS.

